Cultural Dos and Don'ts

Do
-Do wave and smile at the guards, they have a lonely job
-Do talk about yourself, people have a skewed idea of Americans (thank you Britney)
-Do shake people's hands, they stiffen up if you to hug them...but there's no harm in that
-Do listen
-Do bring a gift when you come to someone's house
-Do call a church ahead of time, to let them know you'll be attending service or visiting
-Do what you say you'll do
-Do move for women and elderly people on the bus
-Do take your shoes off when entering a house
-Do eat with your fingers
-Do eat and drink what's given to you (i.e. everything on your plate)

Don't
-Don't talk about your faith until you're asked. It's considered a conversion attempt and will push most people away. Most white people are assumed to be Christians anyway.
-Don't write or speak against the government, you'll be kicked out of the country.
-Don't turn your back on someone in a heated discussion unless you have nothing else to say.
-Don't wear skimpy clothes.
-Don't swim in the ocean unless you are on the East Side of the country. You can go in, but it's semi-dangerous in the South and somewhat disrespectful since the tsunami.
-Don't make eye contact with the munks
-Don't sit next to the munks or priests
-Don't touch the kids on their heads, it's degrading to them

Plane Tickets

You should buy the tickets from Sri Lankan Airlines, talk to Robby, say you're with Sri Lanka Outreach Team and referred by Sarah Turner. You can tell them that you are with relief efforts and that we can fax him a letter to prove it. You should not pay more that $1300 each for your round trip tickets (best price so far is $1074!). The phone number for that is 213-483-8808. Email me at Sarah@SriLankaOutreach.com to get a relief letter.

Shot List

Shot List for those going to Sri Lanka:

Disclaimer: Though shots are are strongly recommended, none of them are required for access to the country. Immunizations are cheaper to obtain in Sri Lanka, if you wish to wait.

VERY IMPORTANT

Hepatitis A & B

Regular 10 year booster (DTP, diphtheria, tetanus, Polio)

RECOMMENDED FOR INLAND TRAVEL (These shots can only be acquired at a Travel Health Clinic)

Typhoid

Japanese B encephalitis

Malaria

What To/Not To Bring

Important to Bring:
-bible
-journal
-back pack
-sleeping bag
-one week's worth of clothes
-passport
-2 or 3 photo copies of your passport
-toiletries (very few)
-two pairs of shoes (one pair of heavy shoes and one pair of sandals
-sunscreen
-hat
-shorts or pants that hang around your knees (men)
-pants or long skirts only (women)

Optional to Bring:
-work gloves
-batteries (very few, if any)
-mosquito repellent
-maybe a small mat
-reading material
-pain medicine
-anti-itch cream

Do Not Bring:
-unnessesary electronics
-make-up
-skimpy clothing
-sleaveless shirts (women)
-more than you can carry

Costs

How to Convert Dollars to Rupees:
$1 is about 97 Rs. That's almost one penny per Rupee. So think of 22 Rs. as 22 cents, 100 Rs. as $1, 1000 Rs. as $10.

Travel:
Taxi 22 Rs. per Kilometer
Tuk-Tuk (Three Wheeler) 17 Rs. per Kilometer (+ extra for every district)
Van 44 Rs. per Kilometer
Train 50 Rs. Intercity (i.e. the coast)
Train 200 Rs. First Class Express

Local Meal:
Curry Leaves 160 Rs.
Green Cabin 300-400 Rs.
Cafes 100 Rs.
Il Galetto 175 Rs. for Ice Cream (it's ssoooo good)

American Meal:
McDonalds 175-300 Rs.
KFC 175 Rs.
Pizza Hut 200 Rs.
Baristas 140 Rs. for Coffee

Internet Cafe:
Internet 40 Rs. per hour
USA phone call 5 Rs. per minute
Printouts 20 Rs. per page

Hotels/Motels (per night):
With AC and Possibly Hot Water
KMC 1250 Rs.
Sun Shine 1700 Rs.
Holiday Inn 4000 Rs.
Galle Face 4400 Rs.
Taj 6000 Rs.
Hilton 7000 Rs.

With Out AC or Hot Water
KMC 1000 Rs.
Sun Shine 1500 Rs.
Miss Marie Barbara's Bed n Breakfast 1800 Rs.

Contacts

How to Dial
From an international phone: dial the number written, or replace the + with 011 and try again.
From a local (Sri Lankan) land phone: dial the seven digits after 011. If a number begins with 077, you must dial all ten digits after 94.
From a local cell phone: dial all ten digits after 94.
You can only use American phone cards from certain Pay Phones. These are very hard to find and I wouldn't even recomend the effort. You can buy local phone cards at almost any store that sells bread or candy or water. The local pay phone cost 10 Rs. and only takes coins. There is no operator and very few phone books.

Head of Volunteers
Assemblies of God: Pastor Chrisso +94 011 536 3777
160/30 Kiramendala Mawatta Colombo 05

Dutch Reform Church: Yan +94 011 239 0861
Wella Watte and Dehiwela (near Station Rd.)

Methodist Church: Rev. Dulip Fernando +94 077 779 5251
Kolpitty (near Methodist College)

YMCA: Joel Wright +94 077 656 5223

Volunteer Sri Lanka: Tod Bruning +94 077 725 6921
Accross the street from Assemblies of God

Friends
Phillip +94 011 279 3233
Ron and Marsha +94 011 273 1420
Charlie +94 011 285 2835
Luke +94 077 697 2134
Mrs. Samuel +94 011 251 3408
Nimal +94 077 743 7103

Airport Arrival

Arrive at the airport.

Follow the crowd of people off the plane, onto a shuttle, and into the airport.
Go downstairs and get your luggage, be sure to register any valuable items- such as a laptop.
You may want to convert $20 into 2000 Rupees while in the airport, but do not convert more, as the conversion rate is better at most banks.
Go outside, past all of the people trying to sell you hotel-stay, and to the front.
When you get to the front, turn left and walk to the end.
There, you can get a taxi for $10-$15 or you can hop on Bus 187 for 150 Rs.
This bus will take you to the train station in Colombo- about a 45 minute drive.
At the station, get on a bus that says Galle Rd. It will cost 100 Rs.
Know the name of the hotel or district that you are going to, and tell the Bus Boy (guy who takes your money) to help you get off at the right place.